Best of

the Twin Cities

Best New Band

Bruise Violet

The teen-punk trio Bruise Violet set the Twin Cities music scene ablaze late in 2015, releasing a scorching debut EP, Survival of the Prettiest, in August, and laying waste to every stage they played throughout the year. Their songs are filled with raucous angst as well as relentlessly catchy hooks, while the group's boisterous musical influences are made quite clear by their Babes in Toyland-inspired band name. Bruise Violet seamlessly bridge the gap between the experimental fury of riot grrrl and the DIY aesthetic of garage rock, giving a fresh new take on punk in the process. The venues and crowds kept getting bigger for Bruise Violet as the past year wore on, with their spirited, assured anthems clearly resonating with young and old music fans alike. And with plenty of airplay on local radio, some high-profile gigs under their belt, and a solid No. 2 showing in our Picked to Click poll, the young group seems poised to break big in 2016.